Water circulator and feed water heater



WATER CIRCULATOR AND FEED WATER HEATER Filed Dec 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fioZeSE.FZ2 e/Zan m wa m tzi A-rromiivs Patented June 10, 1941 WATER CIRCULATO R, AND' FEED WATER ATER" r Jules E. Phelan, Palestine,Tex. Application December 5, 1938, Serial- No. 244,122

2 Claims.

My invention relates to steam boilers, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved water circulator and feed water heater.

The efficiency of a steam boiler depends largely upon the free circulation of water in the boiler. In boilers of the locomotive or horizontal types the circulation is frequently very sluggish. Various conditions of service also effect the circulation of water in the boiler. Such variable conditions are particularly noticeable in connection with locomotives. The demands on the boiler suddenly vary from one extreme tothe other. In standing or drifting'down grade, the fire box temperature is reduced so as to just maintain a proper steam pressure. The circulation of the water is most pronounced around the fire box sheets. The main body of the water ahead of the fire box, in the barrel of the boiler, and the water in the lower part of the barrel just behind the front flue sheet is at a much lower temperature than the water surrounding the fire box. When the throttle is opened the pressure on the water is reduced so that the water around the fire box is suddenly converted into steam. Consequently, the cold water rushes back around the fire box to take place of water converted into steam. It is true that such circulation, or rushing of the water, improves the general circulation for the moment, but such sudden rushes of water always subject the fire box sheets to considerable strain due to the sudden contraction. The fire box is subjected to frequent abuse of this nature,

which makes necessary the frequent and rigid inspection of such equipment.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a novel preheating system for feed water before it enters the boiler in which novel means are incorporated for maintaining a constant and improved circulation of the water in the boiler, thereby insuring a more uniform temperature throughout the boiler. The system operates to permit quicker steaming of the boiler with consequent economy from the standpoint of fuel consumption and boiler maintenance.

More specifically, my invention includes a double chambered manifold installed in the smoke box or the front end of locomotive boilers in combination with tubes communicating with one chamber and extending through certain of the boiler fiues into the fire box. These tubes include a U-bend connected with other tubes extendingthrough other boiler hues and communicating with the other chamber in the manifold. One chamber is located above the other so that the first bank of tubes will lie underneath the second bank which communicates with the upper chamber of the manifold. The manifold is at all times in open communication with the main body of water in the boiler through the medium of large pipe connections. 7

The lower chamber in the manifold includes a pipe connection with the belly of the boiler, while the upper chamber has communication with the boiler at points approximating the location of the usual boiler checks. Water entering the lower chamber from the belly of the boiler or from the injector passes from the lower chamber through the manifold tubes into the upper chamber and back to the boiler at a higher level. Each end of the lower chamber of the manifold includes a boiler check connection with the injector system of the boiler. The construction is such as to maintain a more uniform temperature throughout the boiler,,thereby reducing strains and damage due to expansion and contraction.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a locomotive illustrating my invention associated therewith, with certain parts broken away'for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view looking down on the lower half of the boiler structure;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the manifold;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the manifold and the tubes associated therewith; and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view of one of the boiler flues illustrating the manner in which the manifold tubes are supported and concentrically related to their respective boiler flues.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a locomotive boiler I!) which includes the usual fire box l2 and barrel part II. The forward end of the barrel I 4 ter- .minates in the usual smoke box l6 provided with a nozzle stand l8. Inside the smoke box IE I mount a manifold or header 20 which extends transversely of the smoke box. The side walls 22 of the smoke box are cut open to accommodate the manifold, and the manifold may be made socure by welding along the lines 24. The boiler includes the usual front flue sheet 26 and rear flue sheet 28 for supporting the usual fiues 30.

Referring to Fig. 3 and 4, the manifold 20 is rectangular in cross section and includes a horizontal partition 32 for dividing the manifold into a lower compartment 34 and an upper compartment 36 extending the full length of the manifold. The wall 38 is provided with a line of openings 40 for receiving the forward ends of tubes 42. Tubes 42 communicate with the chamber 34. Wall 38 also includes a second line of openings 44 for the reception of the forward ends of tubes 4%. Tubes 42 lie in a horizontal plane and extend through certain of the boiler flues 48. Similarly, the tubes 43 lie in a common horizontal plane and extend through other of the flues 48 above the tubes 42. Tubes 42 and 46 are connected by U-bends 58. It will thus be seen that the lower compartment 34 has communication with the upper compartment 36 through the medium of tubes 42, 43 and 53. into the fire box [2, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The opposite wall of the manifold 23'is provided with two lines of openings 54 and 56, which are axially aligned with the openings 40 and 44, respectively. Openings 54 and 56 are threaded for the reception of sleeves 53 and washout plugs 60. The plugs may be removed to facilitate inspection and washing out of the manifold and the tubes 42 and 46.

The bottom wall 62 is provided with a relatively large opening 64 intermediate the ends of the manifold. To the outer face of the wall 32 I weld a pipe 65 having an inside diameter conforming to the diameter of the opening 84. Pipe 65 includes a horizontal run 68 connected with a similar run "it! of a pipe 52 through the medium of an expansion joint E l. Pipe 12 has its end welded to the barrel M of the boiler, which barrel is provided with an opening for establishing communication between the pipe and the boiler. Pipe 12 is located rearwardly of the front flue sheet 26. A blow-off cool: it has communication with the pipe i2 so that the entire system may be drained if necessary.

To the end walls "i I connect pipes It which communicate with the upper chamber 36 and extend upwardly and rearwardly of the boiler ba rel M for connection therewith at points approximating the usual location of the boiler checks. The forward end of each pipe l8 may be welded to its respective wall 73, while the rear end of each pipe may be welded to its respective side of the barrel M. The sides of the barrel are provided with openings for establishing communication between the boiler and the pipes T8. Thus communication is established between the upper chamber Sit and the interior of the boiler barrel. Toeach of the end walls 16 I connect one end of a pipe 8%]. These pipes extend rearwardly of the barrel M for connection with the usual injectors of the locomotive, andeach pipe is provided with a check 32 located close to its respective manifold wall 76.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the method of lending support to the pipes 42 and 45 extending through the flues 43. Each pipe is provided with a plurality of lugs 84 which lugs are spaced longitudinally of the pipes and spaced ninety degrees apart. In staggering the lugs in this manner I utilize a certain amount of spring in the tubes to keep the lugs tight against the inside of their respective flues. Thus the tubes 42 and 46 are supported in concentric relation with respect to their enclosing flues 48, with the space between the tubes and the lines such as to permit the passage of gases from the fire box to the smoke box in the usual manner.

In assembling, the tubes 42 and 46 are first passed through their respective flues 4B. The

Bends 50 extend sleeves 58 and washout plugs 63 are removed and the ends of the tubes 42 and 46 drawn into the openings 40 and 44. These ends can then be expanded through the openings 54 and 56 and welded inside the manifold, outside the same, or on both sides if desired. The bends 53 are then clamped to the outer ends of their respective tubes and made secure by welding.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the invention, the operation thereof will be readily understood. Manifold 20, in being located in the smoke box It, constitutes a preheater for the feed water before it enters the boiler. At the same time, the lower chamber 34 is in communication with the belly of the barrel a short distance rearwardly of the front flue 25. This communication is of large diameter so as to facilitate free and ample circulation of water. The temperature inside the smoke box is such as to effectively heat the manifold 20.

The injectors of the locomotive may be utilized in the conventional manner for delivering water to the manifold. Injector water enters the lower chamber 34, absorbs heat from the manifold and is delivered to the upper chamber 36 through the medium of the tubes 42 and 4B and their interconnecting bends 59. Water travelling from the chamber 34 to the chamber 36 derives considerable heat from the flues and the fire box. The water is additionally heated in the upper chamber 36, and is delivered to the boiler through the medium of the pipes 18. Pipes '58 have communication with the boiler at points below the normal water level. It will thus be seen that the lower chamber 34 has communication with the belly of the barrel, while the upper chamber 33 has communication with the barrel at considerably higher points. At the same time, the two chambers are interconnected. It will thus be seen that I provide means which facilitates circulation of water in the boiler, thereby insuring a more uniform temperature throughout the boiler. In addition, the more uniform temperature of the water eliminates frequent and sudden expansions and contractions which cause considerable damage to the boiler structure. More steam can be generated in less time and with less fuel.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a boiler having a flue, a water circulating tube extending through said flue in heat transfer relation therewith, said tube having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said flue to provide a space therebetween for the passage of burnt products of combustion, and lugs on said tube engaging said flue to support the tube centrally of said flue, said lugs being of such length as to place said tube under slight flexure.

2. In a boiler having a flue, a water circulating tube extending through said flue, said tube having an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of said flue to provide a space for the passage of burnt products of combustion, and lugs spaced longitudinally of said tube and ofiset circumferentially thereon engaging said flue to support the tube therein. said lugs being of such length as to place said tube under flexture.

JULES E. PHELAN. 

